Refills and Care

Cleaning your Pelikan writing instrument

Pelikan guarantees its customers lifelong pleasure when writing with a Pelikan writing instrument. To ensure that, it is important that your fine writing instrument is kept clean. Yet, the process of cleaning is not complex in any way. Cleaning pens with piston filling mechanisms, for example, only needs clear water.

Ink 4001 Royal Blue

Cleaning pens that are in everyday use

If your fountain pen is used on a daily rate, it is entirely sufficient to rinse it once a year under lukewarm, running water (avoid using additives). For this, draw in some water through the nib by twisting the knob of the piston filling mechanism to the right and then release the water again by turning the knob in the other direction.

Cleaning pens that are in infrequent use

If you only need your fountain pen every once in a while, please try writing your fountain pen empty about every six months. Otherwise, empty the ink cartridge and rinse it with lukewarm water.

When used infrequently, we recommend to fill up your fountain pen only halfway. If you have not been using your pen for a longer period of time, make sure you clean the fountain pen before beginning to write.

Colored ink (except blue)

Colored ink contains a higher amount of pigments than only blue ink. So, in case you are using colored inks, your fountain pen will need to be cleaned more often.

Special ink / India ink (e.g. Pelikan Fount India)

Due to its characteristics, this special ink is also called "India ink for fountain pens". Among other things, it contains a higher ratio of soot, which settles in the fine capillaries of the ink regulator. Leaving the pen open, without putting the cap back on when you are finished writing, will anticipate the process. What happens is that the watery carrier fluid evaporates much faster and the solids, e. g. the soot, sediment in the fountain pen. Consequently, the ink becomes thicker and gathers in the capillary grooves of the ink regulator and the fine capillaries of the piston filling mechanism. To make a long story short: it will stop up your fountain pen. Therefore, if you only need your fountain pen every once in a while, we recommend you to only partly fill up the ink reservoir and best rinse it under lukewarm water every 3 to 5 months (leaving away additives).

General information

We recommend you the following:

Do not buy ink in too large amounts and use it up within 12 to 18 months.

Always close your fountain pen using its sealing cap.

Do not expose your writing instrument to extreme temperatures (frost or extreme heat).

Never use additives such as liquid soap or detergents to clean your pen!

How to fill your piston filler correctly

There are a couple of things you should have in mind when filling the reservoir of a piston filling fountain pen. The following instructions will show you how to fill your piston filler in four steps without dripping.

Before getting started, move the piston filling mechanism forwards by twisting the knob at the end of the pen to the left.

Dip the entire nib into the ink, all the way to where the gripping section starts. Draw in the ink by twisting the knob rightwards. Work slowly and at an even pace.

When the barrel is filled, let five drops drip back into the glass.

Now, hold the nib upright and turn the knob again to release the remaining air.